I started on BG then DB. A plywood bass may run $1000 to 2000 used.
Best thing I did was study The Nanny Method book with a good teacher.
Best thing I did was study The Nanny Method book with a good teacher.
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Double Bass Adult Beginner Double Bass
- Thread starter MaidenVT
- Start date
I bought my first DB, a used German factory ply, for $300 in 1981. Sadly basses aren't found that cheap anymore. $300 won't even buy a set of gut strings, never mind a bass to put them on
If there's truly no local sources of any kind, there are a few reputable places that do mail order and can assist you in choosing a first bass, like Gollihur Music and Upton Bass.
Good luck to both of you, it's a fun journey.
I'm in the process of getting ready to rent a double bass hopefully this Friday or the week after my finals next week. 200-280 for the first three months is pretty fair IMO, my place is doing that too. For buying a bass, I would first rent and take lessons see if you like it, which you probably will but it's just logical plus a big investment and is more affordable as crazy as it sounds to rent if you can get credit to buy one. Good places to buy if you do not like the shop basses are Gollihur music which ships and String Emporium, however I haven't called up Steve from String Emporium yet but I think they are having a giant shipment issue which is totally understandable with the current world issues. Both are great sellers for affordable basses and great to work with, both of those places ship, your shop may have a Shen which are awesome... BUT don't worry about that till you play and get deep! Also again, like others I have said, Rent! Also take Lessons to start! Don't skip out on lessons, you can injured yourself badly if done wrong! Good luck and keep sharing the info on what you do!!! 
For bassist who play both Double bass and Electric, how do you balance time for playing both?
This has a lot of people sharing how DB helped their BG skills!
Subscribed. I’ve played bg for about 28 years now and just got an NS Design EUB to start. I asked a music professor at the local college and got a teacher recommendation and had lesson one. The physical nature of the instrument is so different. I’m also finding myself wanting an acoustic upright. Still, the basic intonation and hand placement is something I can practice on the EUB as well. I know an acoustic UB would feel different though.
Thank you. Everything is so expensive today and it's getting worse.I bought my first DB, a used German factory ply, for $300 in 1981. Sadly basses aren't found that cheap anymore. $300 won't even buy a set of gut strings, never mind a bass to put them on
If there's truly no local sources of any kind, there are a few reputable places that do mail order and can assist you in choosing a first bass, like Gollihur Music and Upton Bass.
Good luck to both of you, it's a fun journey.
I hear you. I remember getting a Czech factory ply Strunal that played well from a music store for $550 a decade or so ago. It even came with a nice gigbag and two bows.I bought my first DB, a used German factory ply, for $300 in 1981. Sadly basses aren't found that cheap anymore. $300 won't even buy a set of gut strings, never mind a bass to put them on
+1 on previous lists, plus the late Rinat Ibragimov.
Xavier Foley, Dominik Wagner , Mikyung Song, Edicson Ruiz, Lorraine Campet. [edit] and the next, next generation.
And for convincing evidence that it's not magic, it's mostly hard work , try the Hilary Hahn practicing YT clips where she makes actual mistakes. And the one in which her two-year reminds her to "play slower mom!"
Jason Heath's 800 something interviews and tips :Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog
The International Society of Bassists 3PM Saturday live with Gary Karr , lists of teachers, video libraries :
International Society of Bassists - Welcome
On the $300 bass bought in 1981 - That's $1000 now . My decent ply and bow from 1984, considered good buys by friends and teachers then, did not keep up with inflation as of five years ago. The spike in prices in old equipment during covid was from old guys with disposable income.
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Tacking on to some other comments made here, absolutely do not try to learn this instrument on your own. Even with an instructor I got very discouraged early on practicing bow technique. The notes often wouldn't come out, and I didn't understand why (until I got to the next lesson and we could talk about it.) I can't imagine going through that experience without proper instruction without just getting fed up and quitting.
And if you're thinking "well I don't care about bow"...
1. That's what I thought at first too, until I noticed how sweet it can sound (and feel)
2. Even if bowing is not your goal, it makes intonation mistakes more obvious, forcing you to develop better left-hand technique, which will help whatever you play.
And if you're thinking "well I don't care about bow"...
1. That's what I thought at first too, until I noticed how sweet it can sound (and feel)
2. Even if bowing is not your goal, it makes intonation mistakes more obvious, forcing you to develop better left-hand technique, which will help whatever you play.
You'll be happy to know I had my first double bass lesson Sunday. I was lucky to find a great teacher and I learned a lot. I actually got some nice tone out of my bowing hand. I practiced for an hour tonight I think an hour a day is a good start.
Congrats! I started on DB when I was 40 after playing electric for a little over a decade. I had spirocores on my bass and I could not believe how awful the bow sound was. Even playing pizzicato I remember cursing out loud and thinking how does anyone makes this instrument sound good? But I just loved the sound of the great DB players like Paul Chamber, Sam Jones, Ron Carter, plus the classical repertoire, and I forced myself to practice every day. I learned to play poorly in a few keys and would play along with recordings that didn’t have bass (some Gillian Welch records and a Teddy Wilson solo piano collection). That was rewarding at the time. At a certain point I realized I needed to start playing DB with other people and not just alone in my apartment. I posted on this forum and got some suggestions for Jazz workshops in NYC. I started doing that and working with a teacher regularly (after having done a few one offs with teachers around town but nothing regular). Weekly lessons and practicing one hour per day kicked me up a notch. And having to keep up in a Bebop workshop where I was the weakest link made me get my act together. I kept at it, eventually made some connections at the workshops, got a regular Saturday session with some folks. That got me wanting to go back to school to finish my undergraduate degree at age 47! In music! That was fall 2019. I just finished my third year. I go back in September to start my senior year getting my BFA in Jazz studies as a double bass major. I have a paying trio gig tonight at a place in midtown Manhattan with the word “Jazz” in its name. It’s possible to learn and flourish on this instrument as a late starter. It’s more work than you can imagine, but also more rewarding. Congrats on your journey! Keep us posted on it!
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Three things:
1) Of course you have to build hand strength;
2) Need more lessons, you're probably not using perfect left hand technique, which takes a while to get ingrained;
3) String height is likely too high at the nut. I don't know why but it seems like every stringed instrument I have ever bought or rented came to me with absurdly high strings at the nut. Like the one guitar that the tech tested out and IMMEDIATELY said "Wow, that's just basically unplayable!"
1) Of course you have to build hand strength;
2) Need more lessons, you're probably not using perfect left hand technique, which takes a while to get ingrained;
3) String height is likely too high at the nut. I don't know why but it seems like every stringed instrument I have ever bought or rented came to me with absurdly high strings at the nut. Like the one guitar that the tech tested out and IMMEDIATELY said "Wow, that's just basically unplayable!"
The three double-basses I have rented (two different ones when I was starting, and another when I relocated during pandemic lockdown and didn't have my own bass for several months) I used a fine round file to carefully lower the string height (sshhhhh, don't tell).
Hi I deleted my post because I was just letting out frustration. The string height doesn't seem to bad. You right everyday my hand and fingers are getting stronger. I go for my next lesson during the week. Thanks for the advice.
That is a motivational story if ever there was one! I’m 49 and just started DB after decades of BG.
I relaxed a little bit and played a lot better. Now I'm happy. You should start playing right after work unwind a bit then play. I keep my Bass close so I can grab it and play.
Practice has gotten much better. I kept forgetting to drop my bow arm on my down bow. Huge improvement and my left hand is getting stronger and the tone much clearer.
Can you post a video of yourself playing this page that is making your hand hurt? There is a certain amount of strength building that’s required but a reasonable amount of daily practice should not result in hand pain. You may be doing something incorrectly or inefficiently which members of this forum could help you with. I recently lowered my end pin length and am experiencing less wrist fatigue than I had before. Sometimes a small adjustment can make a big difference. Are you working out of Simandl?
